Day 10: Psalm 129

History can teach us many things; Psalm 129 serves as a reminder of this reality. The psalmist, upon reaching the Temple, reflects back once again on how the Lord has protected him on the journey. However, a deeper lesson is invoked. The Lord has also protected Israel during her times of persecution. “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, let Israel say…” This saying harkens back all the way to the captivity in Egypt, the Exodus, and up to the Babylonian Exile. These challenging times were like a plow making deep furrows in a field. Yet the Lord broke the rope or the yoke of oppression. Here is that promise of protection that is given by the Lord to His chosen people by way of the covenant. Similarly, the Lord Jesus reminds us that He will be with us to the end of the age: in the Church and the Eucharist providing us protection!

The psalmist applies this lesson from history of protection to his time. This is due to the experience of the rumbling of others as they go about the rebuilding effort that is being undertake upon their return from exile. Thus, the same protection that the Lord provided in the past, the psalmist invokes for the present time as he and the other faithful experience the scorn of others. The experience of the scorn of others has been seen already in psalm 120, 123, and 125. 

Next is the blessing. The psalmist compares those who love and hate Zion: upon those who love Zion, a rich harvest and blessing is invoked. Upon those who hate Zion, or do not follow the ways of the Lord, a poor harvest like grass that withers due to lack of roots is what they will reap. Since they will have little to nothing to harvest, those who pass by will not be able to give the tradition blessing given to the harvesters as seen in Ruth 2:4: The blessing of the Lord be upon you. And thus, the response of the harvester will not be returned: We bless you in the name of the Lord.

The pilgrim praying psalm 129 on the tenth step would be calling to mind these things: how the Lord has been faithful and protected the pilgrims on the journey in the past and now. Bringing problems faced and pouring them out to the Lord in the Temple would be done as well as praying for the Lord’s continued protection. Also, the blessing of Aaron (as found in the Book of Numbers 6:22-27) that is to be received and is the highlight of the journey is now closer at hand. 

Psalm trivia: In the traditional Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this psalm (129) was used at Night Prayer or Compline along with psalm 130 and 131. The daytime hours of Mid-Morning (Terce), Mid-Day (Sext), and Mid-Afternoon (None) used psalms 120-128. Thus, the majority of the Psalms of Ascent were prayed by the faithful who prayed this traditional little office each day!

Pray Psalm 129 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How can looking at Israel’s past history help the psalmist in the present?

How can looking at your past history help you in the present? How has the Lord protected you even when you thought all was lost?

What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!